STEWARD [_coming to him deprecatingly_] Oh, sir: you always give my most innocent words such a turn! ROBERT. I will give your neck a turn if you dare tell me, when I ask you how many eggs there are, that you cannot lay any. STEWARD [_protesting_] Oh sir, oh sir— ROBERT. No: not oh sir, oh sir, but no sir, no sir. My three Barbary hens and the black are the best layers in Champagne. And you come and tell me that there are no eggs! Who stole them? Tell me that, before I kick you out through the castle gate for a liar and a seller of my goods to thieves. The milk was short yesterday, too: do not forget that. STEWARD [_desperate_] I know, sir. I know only too well. There is no milk: there are no eggs: tomorrow there will be nothing. ROBERT. Nothing! You will steal the lot: eh? STEWARD. No, sir: nobody will steal anything. But there is a spell on us: we are bewitched. ROBERT. That story is not good enough for me. Robert de Baudricourt burns witches and hangs thieves. Go. Bring me four dozen eggs and two gallons of milk here in this room before noon, or Heaven have mercy on your bones! I will teach you to make a fool of me. [_He resumes his seat with an air of finality_]. STEWARD. Sir: I tell you there are no eggs. There will be none—not if you were to kill me for it—as long as The Maid is at the door. ROBERT. The Maid! What maid? What are you talking about? STEWARD. The girl from Lorraine, sir. From Domremy. ROBERT [_rising in fearful wrath_] Thirty thousand thunders! Fifty thousand devils! Do you mean to say that that girl, who had the impudence to ask to see me two days ago, and whom I told you to send back to her father with my orders that he was to give her a good hiding, is here still? STEWARD. I have told her to go, sir. She wont. ROBERT. I did not tell you to tell her to go: I told you to throw her out. You have fifty men-at-arms and a dozen lumps of ablebodied servants to carry out my orders. Are they afraid of her? STEWARD. She is so positive, sir. ROBERT [_seizing him by the scruff of the neck_] Positive! Now see here. I am going to throw you downstairs. STEWARD. No, sir. Please. ROBERT. Well, stop me by being positive. It’s quite easy: any slut of a girl can do it. STEWARD [_hanging limp in his hands_] Sir, sir: you cannot get rid of her by throwing me out. [_Robert has to let him drop. He squats on his knees on the floor, contemplating his master resignedly._] You see, sir, you are much more positive than I am. But so is she. ROBERT. I am stronger than you are, you fool. STEWARD. No, sir: it isnt that: it’s your strong character, sir. She is weaker than we are: she is only a slip of a girl; but we cannot make her go. ROBERT. You parcel of curs: you are afraid of her. STEWARD [_rising cautiously_] No, sir: we are afraid of you; but she puts courage into us. She really doesnt seem to be afraid of anything. Perhaps you could frighten her, sir. ROBERT [_grimly_] Perhaps. Where is she now?